Chapter 3

After some time, Kayo finally managed to control himself. The thoughts of becoming a 1st-rate had been set aside as he focused on the system. He understood the System Information just from the explanation from the tutorial so he didn't really have any questions about that.

The tutorial made it easy to understand the why's and how's of the system. However, as he reread his first ability, he immediately asked a question.

' What happens if my body was still inside a solid matter after the 10 seconds ended? '

[ The Host will materialize inside that matter, resulting in being assimilated within the solid matter. ]

' Assimilated as in.... absorbed? '

[ Precisely, the host's body or body part will become one with the solid foreign matter. Naturally, the host's living tissues and cell would die due to the mixture of the foreign matter. ]

' So then for example... my arm got stuck inside the wall, then the tissue and the limb itself would immediately die? '

[ That is so. ]

' Then isn't this quite the hazardous ability? '

[ Yes, it is. However, during the host's usage of the ability, the host is able to inflict any kind of change in reality.

This includes on being able crush a target's heart and leave yourself completely unaffected. However, there is still the rebound from using such an ability which is the 5 minutes paralysis of the host's body. ]

' ...Seriously? '

[ Yes. ]

' Damn.... I never thought I'd get an overpowered ability like this. Although it's true that it has a really great disadvantage, it also has a great advantage. It can be really helpful even a life saving miracle if used properly.

It's like a double-edged sword no- it IS a double-edged sword. '

Because of the paralysis after-effect, Kayo decided to only use the ability on extreme and life threatening situations.

-

By the time Kayo was already finished asking questions about the system as well as confirming some of his concerns, it was already dawn and his stomach was once again grumbling.

He stood up and began to walk. He felt terribly weak and sluggish and his appearance made it seem like the slightest blow of the winds will push him away.

Grumble...

He held his grumbling stomach once more as if it to lessen the pain inside.

' I need to eat first. '

Before he could move, the system screen suddenly appeared with another message.

[ Imminent death because of hunger is probable. Host is highly suggested to eat. ]

' Yeah, you don't need to remind me that. '

Because of the child's memories, he was extremely familiar with the directions within the slums as well as the important figures that's ruling the slums.

As he walked these desolate pathways of the slum, he smirked as he felt a hint of nostalgia. The hard life of being born within the slums as well as the apparent survival of the fittest.

Steal or die, Oppress the weak or die, Be strong or die, and lastly... No mercy or die. Those were the four unspoken rules that Kayo used to follow back in his previous world as a child of the slums.

Dirty, filthy, stinky, damp, near-destroyed structures, cracked pavements, all these were the common description of the slums.

After making some turns, He finally found some people of the slums. They too had a similar look like him, skinny bodies and thin clothing. They only glanced at him before going back to their own businesses.

Some were having a discussion while others only absentmindedly stared at the direction of the main road. The main road is the border that separates the slums from the city.

It was where the commoners and merchants pass through. As Kayo went on his way towards the main road, he noticed some glares that came from other people.

Though they may be hidden, Kayo's keen sense as an assassin could tell that they were harboring ill will towards them. Perhaps even looking to kill him.

So, although Kayo merely passed through them and didn't look at them, he still memorized their faces.

[ Killing intent towards the Host has been detected. Please be aware. ]

Kayo rolled his eyes as he was already aware of it even before the system had told him. Because of his instinct as an assassin, especially being trained by the very best, it would not only be a disgrace but an insult to his master if he failed to perceive it.

' Hmmm... None of them were familiar to this body, at least, the boy didn't have any interaction with them.

Though the previous child have memorized the direction and places within the slums, it doesn't necessarily mean that he remembers or are familiar with every person that goes through here.

So far, none of the people I saw are familiar to the boy but seeing as how they bear ill will towards me, one even with killing intent, I should remember their faces. '

Having said that, Kayo continued his way towards the main road. The distance between the Dark Alleys which was a place deeper in the slums, and towards the Main Road were quite far.

As Kayo continued to follow the path towards the Main Road, he could frequently see more and more people of the slums and some were even familiar to him.

Not exactly familiar though, but the boy had seen them before. They only glanced at him before completely ignoring him as if he wasn't there in the first place. Kayo smirked at their attitude and he too, simply minded his own business.

In the slums, there was no room for kinship, only benefits. Though the same works for the society, it's more apparent in the slums since no amount of human emotion can appease the empty stomachs of the people living in the slums.

Having reached the end, Kayo found himself in front of the main road. There, it was like a completely different world. People were walking and talking from all directions. Children were running about while there were many different stalls advertising their merchandise.

It was a noisy and bright scenery. As he was about to go, he noticed that there are also quite an amount of people from the slums staying near the border of the main road. Some looking for alms while others intentionally made themselves look even more unfortunate, hoping to incite the pity of the commoners.

' Time to get my food. '

Having checked that no one was observing him, he walked normally within towards the main road and immediately disappeared within the crowd. It was really a busy place as people where coming and going from all directions.

Kayo eventually stopped nearby a food stall that has a considerable amount of costumers. He immediately noticed that beside the merchant, there was also a helper who seemed to be an observer rather than a helper.

Kayo walked by the stall whilst perfectly blending in with the crowd. As he observed, he found a nearby middle-aged couple also ordering in that stall.

He stayed near them and as soon as the observer's eyes followed the couple, Kayo moved and took two pieces of bread before immediately blending amidst the crowd again.

It happened so swiftly and smoothly that the observer didn't notice anything at all. As Kayo began to retreat towards the slums once more, he immediately noticed that there was a couple of gazes that was closely observing him.

As soon as he was nearing the entrance of the slums, he dashed in while consuming the bread he stole. Figures suddenly moved in pursuit of Kayo. Initially, Kayo thought that his pursuers were people of the slums who were desperate for food.

However, as he was getting chased, he noticed that the movements of his pursuers were rather refined or trained- to be exact. The reason he was able to notice this was because he too, made no unnecessary moves and the directions as well as the sharp turns he made were all calculated to shake off his pursuers.

Finally, after some time, he had lost his pursuers. His food was already long gone while sweat dropped down his body. Having ran for quite some time, he also felt extremely thirsty.

Just as he finally stopped, he then noticed a nearby destroyed building with a light inside. He checked his memories if he had any recollection about this place but it seems that although the child knew about this place, he never really ventured in because it was unecessary.

He then caught whiff of delicious scent coming from inside the destroyed building. He checked his surroundings and found no one in sight. Kayo then sneakily made his way to the destroyed building and found that it was inhabited.

It was a small building, similar to a cottage with a destroyed second floor. The first floor was merely filled with cracks but still remained standing. As he stealthily went in, he confirmed that no one else was inside.

It was weird however, there was a fireplace which was lighting up the room. On it was a pot that was boiling a soup-looking substance.

[ Warning! Hunger inducing scent has been detected! ]

' Inducing scent? Is it something similar to essential oils that affects the mind?

If so, where is it coming from? '

Kayo immediately moved to cover his nose and hold his breath. He moved fast, he went to scan the whole room. The first he went for was the large barrels near the corner of the room.

Clunk!

As he removed the cover, he was immediately met with pure water that reflected his face. Though because of the dimmly lit room, he couldn't completely make out his own facial features.

' System, is this a drinkable water? '

[ To manually check for anomalies, Host has to unlock System ( Lv. 8 ). System ( Lv. 1 ) can only warn the host against anomalies that threatens the host's life. ]

' I see... '

Kayo inspected the barrel before noticing a jar behind it. There he found the same type of water except that it had a fresher scent.

' It's this one. '

He immediately began to drink from the hand-size jar until nothing was left. Though he only breathed in the scent for a few seconds, he immediately felt hunger building up inside of him.

' I don't have much time. '

Having said that, he immediately went towards the cabinets that seemed to hold valuables. Within a few minutes, he immediately escaped without looking back.

' With that out of the way, I can finally begin my first goal which is conquering the slums. '

-

As he once again roamed the streets of the slums, he now had a different set of clothes. His rags could no longer be found, instead he had an oversized neat shirt and an oversized trousers which he neatly rolled up in order to fit him.

He also had a pouch containing a few coppers and silvers which should be enough to last him a week.

As he made his way to the main streets of the slums, which was the most densely populated place of the slums, he was immediately met with cold gazes.

If it were not for the fact that he smelled stinky and his skin was dirty, he might've passed well in looking like a commoner. Many of them were looking at him. Many were glaring at him while some were eyeing him as they looked at his attire.

Finally, one person made a contact with him as he was asked in a whisper.

" H-hey kid.. stop right there... "

Kayo only observed the man before him as well as a certain group of beggars from afar.

' It seems like this person is their lackey from that group over their. Could they be related to the pursuers earlier?

...Highly doubt it. Just one look from them and you know it's a group of weaklings that prey on other even more weaker people.

Hm? well there's a familiar face. '

Amongst the group that was watching from afar, Kayo identified one of them. It was a child, seemingly at the same age as him. It was him, the one who acted as a leader of his previous 'friends'.

In the end, Kayo still doesn't know why he was framed.

' And... did my killer really kill me on a whim, or was it part of a conspiracy? '

Kayo thought about it but shook his head as seeing his speculation to be unbelievable. Since in the first place, he was only a child of the slums, nothing more, nothing less.

" H-hey kid? "

Kayo was snapped back into reality as the person in front of him called out to him. Kayo conpletely disregarded his existence as he solely focused on the observing group from afar.

However, seeing as how the man in front of him won't leave him, he decided to answer.

" If I did, what about it? "

" W-well that's uhm.... "

The man in front of him was beginning to show signs of hesitation and anxiety. He then looked at the direction of the group behind him then turned back to Kayo.

" H-hand over your clothes... "